Day Seventy Three: Seeking Liberty in the Land
It seems appropriate to focus in on liberty this Memorial Day. It was for liberty that many died. I attended two Memorial Day ceremonies this morning. I liked the first one for the speech that was made. George Kaiser read the Gettysburg Address with an emphasis on the last line which reads: "that this nation, under God shall have a new birth of freedom and the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Unfortunately the results of this crisis has shown so clearly that most of the government officials really don't care about the people. They have too much power over people's lives, and it's very scary.
Isaiah 61:1(KJV) gives me hope. It reads: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." When I read further through the end of the chapter, my joy increases. Yes, I have to believe that within the next week or so we will begin to be free from these "chains." Some preachers don't want to be free. They rather keep closed indefinitely because they feel they are better served online. Some others are afraid. They just don't want to move forward.
Leviticus 25:10 (KJV) is often cited whenever liberty is mentioned. It is interesting to note that the verse reads:"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." What a marvelous thought! If every tyrannical governor returned the properties they stole along with everyone's livelihood, that would be a miracle! Here's what is in store for these tyrants who stole everyone's livelihood for the sake of a virus: "And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name; But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." What is this saying in plain English? It is saying that those who wrong those who are their servants will see that wrong happen to them.
Now we should understand when we seek liberty in the land, we aren't seeking self gratification. We are seeking more of a moral compass that tells us what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord. In other words we line up our actions so to do the least harm, but still free us to be who God has ordained us to be. John 8:36(KJV) says this: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." It may be hard to comprehend right now. How can we be free when we are so oppressed? The thing is that no matter our circumstances we can be free. We have the hope that "because the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." We have already been delivered. 2 Corinthians 3:17(KJV) puts it this way: "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
This is what we are sorely missing. Liberty doesn't come to those who rely on the government or any other entity. We are called as sons and daughters of God to show people the way out of the chains of sin and death. We do this in many ways, by showing love and compassion to those who need it. Galatians 5:13(KJV) explains it this way: " For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." We are God's hands and feet, as the old saying goes. They see Jesus in us.
Here's where the "rubber meets the road" when seeking liberty. The first chapter of James makes a good point on how to live the Christian life. The 25th verse reads; " but whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, that man shall be blessed in his deed."
Liberty comes at a cost. Most of us are now waking up to the cold facts that we are not free. We followed leaders who corrupted us. 2 Peter 2:19 (KJV) says this : "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." We can blame only ourselves for being so duped into allowing this corruption to fester and steal our freedoms.
Isaiah 61:1(KJV) gives me hope. It reads: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." When I read further through the end of the chapter, my joy increases. Yes, I have to believe that within the next week or so we will begin to be free from these "chains." Some preachers don't want to be free. They rather keep closed indefinitely because they feel they are better served online. Some others are afraid. They just don't want to move forward.
Leviticus 25:10 (KJV) is often cited whenever liberty is mentioned. It is interesting to note that the verse reads:"And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family." What a marvelous thought! If every tyrannical governor returned the properties they stole along with everyone's livelihood, that would be a miracle! Here's what is in store for these tyrants who stole everyone's livelihood for the sake of a virus: "And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name; But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." What is this saying in plain English? It is saying that those who wrong those who are their servants will see that wrong happen to them.
Now we should understand when we seek liberty in the land, we aren't seeking self gratification. We are seeking more of a moral compass that tells us what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord. In other words we line up our actions so to do the least harm, but still free us to be who God has ordained us to be. John 8:36(KJV) says this: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." It may be hard to comprehend right now. How can we be free when we are so oppressed? The thing is that no matter our circumstances we can be free. We have the hope that "because the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." We have already been delivered. 2 Corinthians 3:17(KJV) puts it this way: "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
This is what we are sorely missing. Liberty doesn't come to those who rely on the government or any other entity. We are called as sons and daughters of God to show people the way out of the chains of sin and death. We do this in many ways, by showing love and compassion to those who need it. Galatians 5:13(KJV) explains it this way: " For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." We are God's hands and feet, as the old saying goes. They see Jesus in us.
Here's where the "rubber meets the road" when seeking liberty. The first chapter of James makes a good point on how to live the Christian life. The 25th verse reads; " but whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, that man shall be blessed in his deed."
Liberty comes at a cost. Most of us are now waking up to the cold facts that we are not free. We followed leaders who corrupted us. 2 Peter 2:19 (KJV) says this : "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." We can blame only ourselves for being so duped into allowing this corruption to fester and steal our freedoms.
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